We are returning from a weekend in Stockholm. The sun wasn’t quite as present as we had hoped but it made regular appearances and temperatures were warmer than in Paris. It’s better than nothing!

When we made our reservations for Stockholm, we forgot one small detail: check if there were any major event or holiday. Well, as it happens, we arrived on a holiday that is as important as Christmas for the Swedes: the summer solstice! This holiday allows Swedish people to reconnect with nature. Therefore, the city is deserted by its people who want to celebrate with family and friends, but in the countryside. Stockholm not only took on the appearance of Jerusalem on the Sabbath, but many shops and restaurants, as well as some museums were closed Friday to Sunday.

Despite the lack of Swedish, we were charmed by this city which is on a human scale and has beautiful architectural unity. If we can say that we didn’t pay attention to small details before planning our visit, we can’t accuse people of Stockholm of the past to have skimped on the architectural details. Many buildings in the historic centre, Gamla Stan, show some nice details that we present today.